Desk.



J. W. MOCALL.

DESK.

APrLIoATIoN FILED JAN. 1o, 1912.

1,053,521 Patented Feb. 18,1913.

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ZI .57 r i J+- if@ +3 l 4 l 9 l l l DEF Inventor Attorneys UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

JOSEPH W. lVIcCALL, 0F HUN TINGDON TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ATLAS IVI. LEE, ONE-THIRD TO JOSEPH T. HESTER, AND ONE-THIRD T0 JAMES D. CRAW- FORD, ALL OF HUNTINGDON, TENNESSEE.

DESK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. MCCALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Huntingdon, in the county of Carroll and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Desk, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject-matter of this application, is a letter-carriers desk, designed especially to facilitate the handling of mail matter by rural and city carriers.

The invention aims to provide novel means for facilitating the sorting and storage of different classes of mail matter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of receptacle, adapted to be disposed beneath, and to be moved upwardly to a position in front of, the sorting table, novel means being provided for suspending and for operating the receptacle.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed,it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the invention in front elevation, the receptacle being disposed beneath the sorting table; Fig. 2 is a vertical section upon the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional detail, showing the receptacle swung into a position in front of the table; Fig. 5 is a vertical section through one of the upper drawers; Fig. 6 is a detail per- Spective of the rock shafts whereby the movement of the receptacle is controlled; and Fig. 7 is a fragmental elevation showing the receptacle and one of the drawers in coperative relation.

In carrying out the invention, a supporting structure is provided, the same comprising a frame 1, supporting a sorting table 2. The frame 1 is provided at its upper end with side bars 3, and with a front plate 4. The frame includes, at its rear lower end, a connecting bar 5. A drawer 6 is slidably mounted in the front plate 4, the drawer 6 being adapted primarily to hold letter-carriers daily reports and the like.

Journaled for rotation in the supporting structure, in any desired manner, and ordinarily supported by the Side bars 3, is a rear rock shaft 7 and a front rock shaft 8. The front rock shaft 8 is equipped with a depending U-shaped suspension member 9, and a depending, U-shaped suspension member 10 is connected with the rear rock shaft 7. A receptacle 12 is pivotally connected with the intermediate portion of the suspension member 10 of the rear rock shaft 7, the intermediate portion of the suspension member 9 of the front rock shaft 8 constituting a means for holding the free, forward end of the receptacle 12 in a horizontal position. The pivotal union between the receptacle 12 and the rear suspension member 10 is indicated at 14. The members 9 and 10 may be connected by a platform 50.

The rear rock shaft 7 is equipped with a crank arm 15, and the forward rock shaft S is equipped with a crank arm 16. A connecting bar 17 is pivotally united with the crank arms 16 and 15, the connecting bar 17 being upwardly and rearwardly curved, as shown at 18, into pivotal union with the crank arm 15 of the rear rock shaft 7. A retractile spring 19 is connected with the front rock shaft 8, or is tixedly supported at one end, in any desired manner, the rear end of the spring 19 being connected with the bar 17. If desired, the front rock shaft 8 may protrude at one end, as shown at 20, be yond one of the side bars 3, the protruding end 20 being equipped with an operating crank 21; the employment of .these details being optional with the manufacturer.

In practical operation, the receptacle 12 which is designed to receive all mail matter, other than first class matter, may be swung into a position below the sort-ing table 2. Under such circumstances, the suspension member 10 will engage with the connecting bar 5, as shown at 23, further rearward move ment of the receptacle 12 being thus prevented. Vhen the parts are thus positioned, the crank arm 15 and the crank arm 16 will lie in approximately a common plane with the rock shafts 7 and 8, because the connec tion 17 is curved, adjacent the arm 15, as shown at 18. Moreover, when the parts are thus positioned, the crank arm 16 and the forward end of the connection 17 will knuckle into approximately a common plane with the rock shafts 7 and 8. Owing to the constructions above pointed out, the retractile action of the spring 19, transmitted through the crank arm 1o and through the curved portion 18 of the connecting bar 18, will serve to hold the receptacle 12 in a retracted position, beneath the table 1, and to hold the suspension member 10 in abutment with the connecting bar 5, as indicated at 05%.

If desired, the receptacle 12 may be swung upwardly and forwardly, to assume a position in front of the table 2, this o-peration preferably taking place through direct manual engagement with the receptacle 12. Moreover, if desired, the crank 21 may be manipulated to produce this result, when the crank is employed. l/Vhen the receptacle 12 is swung upwardly and forwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, the spring 19 will act to produce, and to assist in, this upward and forward movement. The spring 19 will also act to maintain the suspension member 9 engaged with the front plate 4, whereby the upward swinging movement of the receptacle 12 will be limited. At this point it may be noted, that, as indicated at 22, the connecting member 10 is curved, and is longer than the suspension member 9. @wing to this construction, the receptacle 12 will be maintained in a substant-ially horizontal position, whether the receptacle 12 is below the sorting table 2, as is shown in Fig. 2, or is above the sorting table, and to the front thereof, as indicated in Fig. 4. vWhen the receptacle 12 is positioned as shown in Fig. 4, the receptacle may be swung over, upon its hinged connection 14 with the rear suspension member 10, so that the contents of the receptacle may be dumped upon the sorting table. Although the drawer 6 is adapted primarily to store reports, and the like, the drawer may, if desired, be employed for sorting purposes. Thus, as shown in Fig. 7, the drawer 6 may be pulled out of the supporting structure, until it engages with the forward edge of the receptacle 12, thereby limiting the upward and forward movement of the receptacle 12, under the action of the spring 19. Under such circumstances, the mail which is upon the sorting table 2, mav be divided into two classes, as it is sorted, one class being swept oit" the edge of the sorting table 2 into the drawer 6, and another class swept over and past the drawer 6, so as to drop into the receptacle 12.

Fixed to and upstanding from the table 1, at the rear thereof, is a set of pigeon holes 25, the rear ends of which are closed by means of a screen 26. Certain of the pigeon holes are enlarged, so as to receive, at the sides of the structure, drawers 27 and 29, the drawer 27 preferably being `controlled by a combination lock 28, and the drawer 29 preferably being controlled by a combination lock 30. The drtwer 27 may be emploved for containing the carriers supplies, such as stamps, stamped envelops and thelike, such articles being inserted in the drawer 27,

Y when the carrier returns from his trip. The

combination of the lock 27 is ordinarily known to the carrier only.

The drawer 29 is adapted to serve as a receptacle for first class matter. T he rear wall 81 of the drawer 29 protrudes beyond the screen 26, and is equipped with a slot 32, whereby the postmaster may insert first class matter into the drawer 29, from the rear of the cabinet. The drawer 29 may be equipped in its lower face, and at its ends, with stops 33, and intermediate the ends of these stops, a seat 34 may be located. A latch 35, of any desired form is provided, the same being actuated by a spring 36. rThe latch is adapted to register in the seat 34, to hold the drawer 29 closed, and the latch engages with the stops 33' to limit the forward and rearward sliding movement of the drawer. The construction, however, is such that when the drawer is forcibly manipulated, the latch 35 will ride out of the seat 34. Below the pigeon holes 25 a shelf 37 may be placed, for the purpose of receiving record books and the like.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure including a frame and a table superposed thereon; suspension mechanism pivotally connected with the supporting structure; a receptacle carried by the suspension mechanism; a single spring means actuating the suspension mechanism to swing the receptacle upwardly and forwardly, to a position in front of and above the table, and to swing the receptacle downwardly and rearwardly, beneath the table, and past a dead center, when an initial impulse is imparted to the suspension mechanism, the suspension mechanism being engageable by the supporting structure, to maintain the receptacle in front of and above the table, and below the table', against the action of the spring means.

2. 1n a device of the class described, a supporting structure including a frame and a table supported thereon suspension mechanism pivotally connected with the supporting structure; a receptacle carried by the suspension mechanism; a single sprin-g means actuating the suspension mechanism to swing the receptacle upwardly and forwardly, to a position in front of and above the table, and to swing the receptacle downwardly and rearwardly, beneath the table i gageable by the supporting structure, to maintain the receptacle in front of and above the table and below the table, against the action of the spring means, the receptacle being hingedly connected with the suspension mechanism, whereby the receptacle may be swung over the table, to dump the entire contents of the receptacle upon the table.

3. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure including a frame and a table superposed thereon; suspension mechanism pivotally connected with the supporting structure; a receptacle carried by the suspension mechanism; a single spring means actuating the suspension mechanism to swing the receptacle upwardly and forwardly, to a position in front of the table, and to swing the receptacle downwardly and rearwardly beneath the table, past a dead center, when an initial impulse is imparted to the suspension mechanism, the suspension mechanism being engageable by the supporting structure to maintain the receptacle below the table, against the action of the spring means; and a drawer slidable in the supporting structure and engageable by the receptacle, when the receptacle is swung upwardly and forwardly, thereby to limit the upward and forward movement of the receptacle.

4:. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure including a frame and a table superpo-sed thereon; front and rear shafts journaled for rotation in the supporting structure; a receptacle pivotally carried by the rock shafts; crank arms projecting from the rock shafts; a connection pivotally united with the crank arms; a retractile spring fixed at one end, and at the other end united with the connection, to swing the receptacle upwardly and forwardly, into a position in front of the table, one end of the connection and the crank arm of the forward rock shaft knuckling into the plane of the rock shafts, the other end of the connection being curved, adjacent its point of union with the crank arm of the rear rock shaft, thereby to move the point of union between said arm and the connection, into the plane of the rock shafts, when the receptacle is below the table, and when the other end of the connection and the arm of the forward rock shaft are knuckled into the plane of the rock shafts.

5. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure including a frame and a table superposed thereon; a receptacle suspended beneath the table and adapted to be swung upwardly and forwardly to osition in front of the table; a drawer sli able in the supporting structure and adapted to be interposed in the path of the receptacle,

to limit the upward movement thereon; and

spring means for maintaining the receptacle engaged with the drawer.

o'. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; front and rear hangers pivoted to the support-ing structure, the front hanger being' curved and of a different configuration from that of the rear hanger; a connection between the ends of the hangers; and a receptacle pivotally connected with the end of the rear hanger, the rear hanger being adapted to engage the supporting structure when the hangers are swung forwardly and upwardly, and the end of the rear hanger being movable into a position above the front hanger, to elevate the hinged mounting of the receptacle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aliixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH W. MCCALL. Witnesses:

A. M. LEE, J. T. Hns'rnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

